Yesterday, I published Preview Of The 2026-27 U.S. News Law School Rankings: First-Time Bar Passage. Today, following up on last week’s post, Law School Rankings By Ultimate Bar Passage Rate (2022): this post projects next year’s 2026-27 U.S. News ultimate bar passage ranking using the current methodology:
Ultimate bar passage rate (7%): While passing the bar on the first try is optimal, passing eventually is critical. Underscoring this is the ABA’s accreditation standard that at least 75% of a law school’s test-taking graduates must pass a bar exam within two years of earning a diploma. …
[T]he ultimate bar passage rate indicator was newly calculated as a two-year, non-weighted average.
With that in mind, the ultimate bar passage ranking factor measures the average percentage of each law school’s 2020 and 2021 graduates who sat for a bar exam and passed it within two years of graduation, including alternative pathway graduates.
Both the first-time bar passage and ultimate bar passage indicators were used to determine if a particular law school is offering students a rigorous program of legal education. The first-time bar passage indicator was assigned greater weight because of the greater granularity of its data and its wider variance of outcomes.
Below is next year’s projected 2026-27 U.S. News ranking of the average ultimate bar passage for the classes of 2021 and 2022. For comparison, the current 2025-26 U.S. News ranking of the average ultimate bar passage for the classes 2020 and 2021 are also included.
| Rank | School | 2026-2027 Ultimate Bar Passage | 2025-2026 Ultimate Bar Passage | 2025-2026 Ultimate Bar Ranking |
| 1 | Marquette | 100.00% | 99.11% | 11 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 99.58% | 99.47% | 3 |
| 3 | Chicago | 99.53% | 99.76% | 1 |
| 3 | Virginia | 99.53% | 99.21% | 9 |
| 5 | Harvard | 99.49% | 99.33% | 6 |
| 6 | Georgia | 99.22% | 99.17% | 10 |
| 7 | Duke | 99.11% | 99.35% | 5 |
| 8 | BYU | 99.07% | 99.51% | 2 |
| 9 | NYU | 99.03% | 99.25% | 7 |
| 9 | Yale | 99.03% | 99.00% | 12 |
| 11 | Stanford | 98.86% | 99.41% | 4 |
| 12 | UC-Berkeley | 98.83% | 99.23% | 8 |
| 13 | Northwestern | 98.67% | 98.00% | 21 |
| 14 | Penn | 98.43% | 98.78% | 14 |
| 15 | Kansas | 98.41% | 97.96% | 22 |
| 16 | Minnesota | 98.16% | 98.79% | 13 |
| 17 | William & Mary | 98.13% | 97.69% | 27 |
| 18 | Baylor | 98.06% | 97.68% | 28 |
| 19 | Michigan | 97.96% | 98.21% | 19 |
| 20 | Columbia | 97.84% | 96.45% | 39 |
| 21 | Univ. of Washington | 97.72% | 97.96% | 23 |
| 22 | Wake Forest | 97.70% | 97.03% | 32 |
| 23 | Notre Dame | 97.56% | 95.77% | 49 |
| 24 | Montana | 97.32% | 97.10% | 31 |
| 25 | Fordham | 97.31% | 97.78% | 25 |
| 26 | Texas | 97.28% | 98.57% | 16 |
| 27 | Vanderbilt | 97.21% | 97.79% | 24 |
| 28 | Boston College | 97.12% | 97.64% | 29 |
| 29 | Boston Univ. | 97.09% | 98.41% | 17 |
| 30 | Penn State-Dickinson | 96.94% | 95.65% | 52 |
| 31 | USC | 96.80% | 98.11% | 20 |
| 32 | Texas A&M | 96.79% | 98.69% | 15 |
| 33 | UCLA | 96.70% | 97.71% | 26 |
| 34 | Utah | 96.30% | 98.26% | 18 |
| 35 | Indiana (Maurer) | 96.28% | 96.59% | 37 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | 96.10% | 96.08% | 44 |
| 37 | St. John’s | 96.10% | 96.67% | 35 |
| 38 | George Mason | 95.94% | 97.47% | 30 |
| 39 | George Washington | 95.79% | 96.11% | 43 |
| 40 | Illinois | 95.76% | 94.42% | 68 |
| 40 | Ohio State | 95.76% | 96.72% | 34 |
| 42 | Georgetown | 95.66% | 96.37% | 40 |
| 43 | Washington Univ. | 95.63% | 96.34% | 41 |
| 44 | Emory | 95.43% | 95.04% | 64 |
| 45 | Texas Tech | 95.39% | 95.68% | 50 |
| 46 | Alabama | 95.33% | 96.86% | 33 |
| 47 | Washington & Lee | 95.30% | 94.77% | 66 |
| 48 | Loyola-L.A. | 95.22% | 96.55% | 38 |
| 49 | Arizona State | 95.16% | 93.94% | 74 |
| 50 | Northeastern | 95.09% | 95.16% | 63 |
| Rank | School | 2026-2027 Ultimate Bar Passage | 2025-2026 Ultimate Bar Passage | 2025-2026 Ultimate Bar Ranking |
| 51 | SMU | 95.01% | 95.47% | 58 |
| 52 | Campbell | 94.87% | 95.57% | 54 |
| 53 | Cornell | 94.76% | 95.82% | 48 |
| 54 | Nebraska | 94.69% | 95.94% | 46 |
| 55 | Florida State | 94.63% | 94.04% | 71 |
| 56 | North Carolina | 94.48% | 95.61% | 53 |
| 57 | Belmont | 94.35% | 95.30% | 61 |
| 58 | Regent | 94.30% | 96.26% | 42 |
| 59 | Samford | 94.16% | 95.50% | 57 |
| 60 | Georgia State | 94.05% | 92.02% | 92 |
| 61 | Richmond | 93.98% | 95.37% | 60 |
| 62 | UC-Irvine | 93.93% | 95.37% | 59 |
| 63 | Florida Int’l | 93.84% | 95.88% | 47 |
| 63 | Villanova | 93.84% | 94.79% | 65 |
| 65 | Missouri-Columbia | 93.69% | 94.18% | 69 |
| 66 | Temple | 93.54% | 92.76% | 84 |
| 67 | Duquesne | 93.26% | 91.01% | 105 |
| 68 | Houston | 93.08% | 89.85% | 116 |
| 69 | Pittsburgh | 93.03% | 94.15% | 70 |
| 70 | Colorado | 92.79% | 95.17% | 62 |
| 70 | Mercer | 92.79% | 91.60% | 98 |
| 72 | Liberty | 92.70% | 96.62% | 36 |
| 73 | Florida | 92.70% | 94.02% | 72 |
| 74 | New Mexico | 92.68% | 94.66% | 67 |
| 75 | Louisiana State | 92.66% | 95.66% | 51 |
| 76 | Drake | 92.61% | 91.58% | 99 |
| 77 | Arkansas-Fayetteville | 92.59% | 93.22% | 79 |
| 77 | UC-Davis | 92.59% | 91.66% | 96 |
| 79 | Cleveland State | 92.26% | 89.78% | 117 |
| 80 | Gonzaga | 92.02% | 93.23% | 78 |
| 81 | Oregon | 92.00% | 95.55% | 56 |
| 82 | Cincinnati | 91.96% | 93.46% | 76 |
| 83 | South Texas | 91.87% | 89.37% | 121 |
| 84 | San Diego | 91.85% | 92.29% | 91 |
| 85 | UC-San Francisco | 91.81% | 92.81% | 82 |
| 86 | St. Louis | 91.71% | 95.96% | 45 |
| 87 | Brooklyn | 91.67% | 90.10% | 114 |
| 88 | Chicago-Kent | 91.57% | 89.65% | 118 |
| 89 | Cardozo | 91.25% | 93.43% | 77 |
| 90 | Capital | 91.21% | 91.76% | 94 |
| 91 | Pepperdine | 91.18% | 91.01% | 106 |
| 92 | Iowa | 91.17% | 92.37% | 90 |
| 93 | Kentucky | 91.14% | 91.68% | 95 |
| 94 | Seton Hall | 91.09% | 89.04% | 126 |
| 95 | Wayne State | 90.94% | 93.78% | 75 |
| 96 | Tennessee | 90.74% | 92.90% | 81 |
| 97 | Denver | 90.55% | 90.21% | 113 |
| 98 | New Hampshire | 90.50% | 93.96% | 73 |
| 99 | Drexel | 90.34% | 91.13% | 103 |
| 100 | Missouri-Kansas City | 90.33% | 92.59% | 85 |
| 101 | Connecticut | 90.27% | 92.45% | 87 |
| 102 | Akron | 90.24% | 85.15% | 158 |
| 103 | St. Thomas (MN) | 90.23% | 89.16% | 124 |
| 104 | Tulane | 90.22% | 88.97% | 127 |
| 105 | North Texas | 89.95% | 85.80% | 155 |
| 106 | Seattle | 89.66% | 92.50% | 86 |
| 107 | CUNY | 89.64% | 87.39% | 143 |
| 108 | Chapman | 89.62% | 87.83% | 137 |
| 109 | New England | 89.54% | 88.52% | 132 |
| 110 | Albany | 89.44% | 91.44% | 100 |
| 111 | Maryland | 89.21% | 91.06% | 104 |
| 112 | John Marshall (GA) | 89.20% | 82.22% | 172 |
| 113 | American | 89.19% | 91.14% | 102 |
| 113 | St. Mary’s | 89.19% | 89.34% | 122 |
| 115 | Miami | 89.14% | 88.69% | 130 |
| 116 | University of Arizona | 88.97% | 84.13% | 163 |
| 117 | Southwestern | 88.71% | 92.42% | 89 |
| 118 | Faulkner | 88.70% | 89.55% | 119 |
| 119 | New York Law School | 88.49% | 88.72% | 129 |
| 120 | Louisville | 88.47% | 92.92% | 80 |
| 121 | Catholic | 88.38% | 90.61% | 110 |
| 122 | Lewis & Clark | 88.12% | 92.80% | 83 |
| 123 | Arkansas-Little Rock | 88.11% | 89.87% | 115 |
| 124 | Northern Kentucky | 88.10% | 90.36% | 112 |
| 125 | South Dakota | 87.82% | 85.06% | 159 |
| 126 | Stetson | 87.68% | 88.39% | 134 |
| 127 | Wyoming | 87.56% | 91.62% | 97 |
| 128 | South Carolina | 87.43% | 91.29% | 101 |
| 129 | Suffolk | 87.32% | 88.14% | 136 |
| 130 | Hofstra | 87.22% | 85.26% | 157 |
| 131 | West Virginia | 87.06% | 89.16% | 123 |
| 132 | Washburn | 87.06% | 89.39% | 120 |
| 133 | Appalachian | 86.89% | 77.87% | 183 |
| 134 | UNLV | 86.86% | 86.90% | 150 |
| 135 | Northern Illinois | 86.81% | 91.85% | 93 |
| 136 | SUNY-Buffalo | 86.80% | 89.11% | 125 |
| 137 | Loyola-New Orleans | 86.54% | 90.76% | 107 |
| 138 | Syracuse | 86.41% | 90.67% | 109 |
| 139 | Loyola-Chicago | 86.37% | 87.44% | 142 |
| 140 | North Dakota | 86.12% | 92.44% | 88 |
| 141 | Mississippi | 84.94% | 86.48% | 152 |
| 142 | Memphis | 84.85% | 88.48% | 133 |
| 143 | Indiana (McKinney) | 84.81% | 88.17% | 135 |
| 144 | Hawaii | 84.79% | 87.27% | 144 |
| 145 | Santa Clara | 84.59% | 87.48% | 140 |
| 146 | Pacific | 84.26% | 87.23% | 145 |
| 147 | North Carolina Central | 84.06% | 88.82% | 128 |
| 148 | Maine | 84.03% | 87.54% | 138 |
| 149 | Detroit Mercy | 83.70% | 88.58% | 131 |
| 150 | Toledo | 83.62% | 86.63% | 151 |
| 151 | Tulsa | 83.51% | 87.46% | 141 |
| 152 | San Francisco | 83.21% | 85.53% | 156 |
| 153 | Ave Maria | 83.18% | 84.79% | 160 |
| 154 | Ohio Northern | 83.13% | 82.48% | 170 |
| 155 | Dayton | 83.04% | 87.52% | 139 |
| 156 | Creighton | 83.01% | 90.40% | 111 |
| 157 | Oklahoma City | 83.01% | 87.10% | 147 |
| 158 | Massachusetts | 82.91% | 82.85% | 169 |
| 159 | Michigan State | 82.85% | 87.07% | 148 |
| 160 | DePaul | 82.73% | 83.03% | 167 |
| 161 | Pace | 82.68% | 87.13% | 146 |
| 162 | Case Western | 82.67% | 86.41% | 153 |
| 163 | Rutgers | 82.61% | 84.73% | 161 |
| 164 | Howard | 82.51% | 79.94% | 178 |
| 165 | Willamette | 82.29% | 90.71% | 108 |
| 166 | Lincoln Memorial | 82.25% | 82.94% | 168 |
| 167 | Elon | 82.08% | 81.92% | 174 |
| 168 | St. Thomas (FL) | 81.68% | 78.24% | 181 |
| 169 | Mitchell | Hamline | 81.36% | 81.62% | 175 |
| 170 | Widener (DE) | 81.10% | 83.17% | 165 |
| 171 | Western New England | 81.07% | 79.52% | 180 |
| 172 | Charleston | 80.83% | 77.62% | 184 |
| 173 | Baltimore | 80.80% | 84.14% | 162 |
| 174 | Nova | 80.66% | 80.53% | 177 |
| 175 | Quinnipiac | 80.64% | 87.04% | 149 |
| 176 | Idaho | 79.35% | 86.01% | 154 |
| 177 | Illinois-Chicago | 79.15% | 82.27% | 171 |
| 178 | Mississippi College | 79.07% | 79.63% | 179 |
| 179 | Puerto Rico | 78.89% | 75.80% | 189 |
| 180 | Cal-Western | 78.13% | 83.07% | 166 |
| 181 | Widener (PA) | 77.91% | 84.07% | 164 |
| 182 | Roger Williams | 77.87% | 82.18% | 173 |
| 183 | Touro | 77.55% | 78.09% | 182 |
| 184 | Southern Illinois | 77.42% | 75.64% | 190 |
| 185 | Texas Southern | 76.89% | 76.45% | 187 |
| 186 | Barry | 76.70% | 77.27% | 186 |
| 187 | Vermont | 75.74% | 76.44% | 188 |
| 188 | Southern | 74.05% | 80.93% | 176 |
| 189 | Florida A&M | 73.35% | 77.46% | 185 |
| 190 | Western State | 68.14% | 72.72% | 191 |
| 191 | Inter-American (PR) | 67.51% | 63.98% | 194 |
| 192 | District of Columbia | 66.07% | 68.87% | 192 |
| 193 | Pontifical Catholic (PR) | 62.68% | 67.98% | 193 |
| 194 | Cooley | 56.67% | 58.44% | 195 |
Editor’s Note: If you would like to receive a daily email with links to legal education posts on TaxProf Blog, email me here.
